Chapter 12 · The Attack by Fire

Sun Tzu said: There are five ways of attacking with fire: burn soldiers, burn stores, burn baggage trains, burn arsenals, and hurl dropping fire. In order to carry out an attack, we must have means available. The proper season is when the weather is very dry; the special days are those when the moon is in Sagittarius, Pegasus, Crater, or Corvus — for these are all days of rising wind. In attacking with fire, one should be prepared to meet five possible developments. Those who use fire as an aid to the attack show intelligence; those who use water gain an accession of strength. Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical. No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen. Anger may change to gladness; but a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.